Former San Antonio Mayor Pens Memoir Celebrating the Alamo City

Ron Nirenberg's new book reflects on his time in office and the city's defining moments.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary government building in San Antonio, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood that reflects the personal and political themes of Nirenberg's memoir.Nirenberg's memoir reflects on his time leading San Antonio through some of its most contentious and consequential moments.San Antonio Today

Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has written a new memoir that recounts his life, family, and time leading the city through some of its most contentious and consequential moments, including debates over an Amazon warehouse agreement, a Republican National Convention bid, a Chick-fil-A restaurant dispute, and early efforts tied to Project Marvel. The memoir also revisits Nirenberg's experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 protests after George Floyd's killing, and the 2021 Texas winter storm.

Why it matters

Nirenberg's memoir provides a personal and behind-the-scenes look at the key political and social issues that have shaped San Antonio in recent years, offering readers a more complete understanding of the city's challenges and the leadership required to address them.

The details

Nirenberg's book reflects on personal loss, including the deaths of his mother and infant daughter, and frames his public service through what he described as political 'flash points' that helped define his approach in office. The memoir also revisits Nirenberg's campaign battles and political clashes with fellow San Antonio politicians like Greg Brockhouse and Ivy Taylor.

  • Nirenberg is scheduled to discuss the memoir at the San Antonio Book Festival on Saturday, April 10, 2026.
  • Nirenberg is also currently running for Bexar County judge, with his opponent Patrick Von Dohlen not responding to a request for comment about the memoir.

The players

Ron Nirenberg

The former mayor of San Antonio who has written a new memoir about his time in office and the city's defining moments.

Greg Brockhouse

A San Antonio politician who Nirenberg clashed with during his time as mayor.

Ivy Taylor

A San Antonio politician who Nirenberg clashed with during his time as mayor.

Patrick Von Dohlen

Nirenberg's opponent in the Bexar County judge race, who did not respond to a request for comment about the memoir.

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What they’re saying

“History has proven us right more often than not. I wanted to provide context — and at times humor — beyond 'the black and white political discourse'.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Former Mayor of San Antonio

“We wanted to show unity. We wanted it to be transparent. We wanted to give people consistent information. In this sea of chaos between the federal and state government, and people just sort of making it a political issue.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Former Mayor of San Antonio

“It was a mess. We called together an emergency preparedness effort to shore up the things we could do locally. We've done that. And we continue to call on state leaders to address the fundamental root causes of what happened with the grid during Winter Storm Uri.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Former Mayor of San Antonio

What’s next

Nirenberg is scheduled to appear with his co-author in a festival panel discussion at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2026. Dozens of other authors will also take part in this year's San Antonio Book Festival.

The takeaway

Nirenberg's memoir provides a personal and nuanced perspective on the key political and social issues that have defined San Antonio in recent years, offering readers a deeper understanding of the city's challenges and the leadership required to address them.